Looking for a Worthy Investment: Choose the Stock of Jesus Christ

LOOKING FOR A WORTHY INVESTMENT? CHOOSE THE STOCK OF JESUS CHRIST

INTRODUCTION We live in a world where the love of money and the desire to gain prosperity at any cost is a prized sentiment. Our minds tend to focus on the material aspects of life, a great career, beautiful home, an expensive car or exotic vacations. There are so many get rich quick schemes out there and countless investment opportunities. The “American Dream” is an offer that few can resist. The pursuit of this dream can be so time consuming, it’s no wonder that many people in this world have little time to serve God. But as the popular saying states, “Money can’t buy you happiness.” More importantly, money can’t buy you salvation. company name

WHERE’S THE GOOD

Now, if you turn on the news, it’s plain to see that this world and it’s moral values are decaying at a rapid rate. It’s depressing to watch. This is the time to redirect our focus. To invest in the word of God, that is, the stock of Jesus Christ.

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WHAT IS A STOCK? Now in plain and common terms, what is a stock? It is a share of a company held by an individual or investor. This share allows the investor to claim a portion of earnings or assets yielded by that company.

From a spiritual standpoint, we must invest our time in seeking the word of God. Why? This holy word is Christ and it includes his laws, testimonies as well as his principles and teachings. St. John 1: 1 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.� By investing in the word of God, we may claim the best asset or earning there is, that is eternal life or salvation. company name

IS SUCCESS A SIN? By this time, you may be thinking to yourself, is it a sin to be successful, to be ambitious or have goals?

Absolutely not, but we must place things in its proper place. If we are to gain salvation, then we must place God first, who is divine and holy. All other common aspects of our life must be second to the Lord. Now when I speak of “common aspects of our lives� I am talking about the roles we have in life (i.e. father, nurse, wife, teacher); the daily tasks we perform (dropping the kids off at school); the people we interact with (i.e. coworkers, family members) and even the personal interests/hobbies we have (i.e running, shopping, golfing). company name

GOD IS #1 Everything you do in life that makes you who you are on this earth, all of which is important, but it should never be more important than serving the Lord. Keep this scripture in mind, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man,� (Ecclesiastes 12: 13). Now think about what this scripture is saying. Our first and primary duty is to keep the commandments of God. If there is anything or anyone that prevents you from keeping the laws of God, then it becomes a sin, a stumbling block to you.

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GOD IS #1 For example, it is not a sin to pursue a doctorate’s degree in physical therapy. Nor is it a sin to travel to different areas of the world for your own personal enjoyment.

But if these aspects of your life interfere with you worshipping on the Sabbath day or cause you to break any other commandment of God, then it is no longer common. It has become a sin.

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ROMANS 8: 5-8

Investing in the word of God, means changing your mindset. It is to become spiritually minded and not carnally minded. What does this mean? Paul spoke of this in Romans 8: 5 - 8 “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.� company name

THE SPIRITUAL MIND To put it simply, the things of the spirit pertain to God but the things of flesh pertain to this world. A spiritually minded person is guided by the Holy Ghost who teaches us about God and how we must obey him. It is the Holy Spirit who touches our hearts and causes us to repent for our sins. Sincere repentance will lead us to change our actions, and our behavior so that it is pleasing in the eyes of God.

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FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT

When we live according to the spirit of God we become like Christ, possessing traits such as love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance (Galatians 5: 22-23). The Holy Spirit helps us put it into action what we read in the bible and it is through obedience to the law that we gain salvation and escape eternal death.

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WORKS OF THE FLESH A carnally minded person is overly consumed with the works of the flesh or pleasures of this world, which are not merely common but sinful. The works of the flesh according to Galatians 5: 19-21: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.� company name

WORKS OF THE FLESH So the works of the flesh are synonymous with sin. And sin is the transgression of the law. This sin is at enmity or in opposition with God. A carnal minded person will disobey God, ultimately leading them to eternal death. The wages of sin are very high. Ask yourself this, is this world worth my life?

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LESSON OF THE MONTH During the month of January, we talk about the blessings of Jacob vs. the blessing of Esau on our church’s website. How is this theme relevant to what we are discussing now? The blessing of Jacob pertains to the laws of God and the promise of salvation to all those who are obedient. But the blessing of Esau pertains to the pleasure and sinful deeds of this world. Exact details on the life of Jacob and Esau as well as the different blessings they received, goes beyond the scope of this presentation (please see presentation, “Jacob and Esau: the Tale of 2 Brothers”). company name

LESSON OF THE MONTH Know this, Jacob represents the righteous while Esau represents the wicked. In the bible, God stated, “Jacob I love but Esau I hate.� We must choose to pursue the blessing of Jacob for it is eternal and holy.

However, the blessing of Esau, though appealing on the surface, has an expiration date, it is temporary and will lead you to sin and death. company name

JESUS SAID Christ says it best in Matthew 6: 19 21 & 33: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.�

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CONCLUSION In conclusion, the stock of Jesus Christ, his word, is the best investment you can make in your life, for it leads to an asset that is priceless indeed. The asset of eternal life. And unlike common stocks in this world, that change in value or sometimes lack reliability, this stock is constant, it’s reliable and it will ultimately save your life. Amen.

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HOPE YOU ENJOYED!

The Household of Israel Temple of Jesus Christ says hello!

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QUESTIONS?

For questions regarding this presentation please contact us via email at info@householdofisrael.org or by phone at 219.949.9308

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SPECIAL THANKS

This presentation was developed and narrated by Elisabeth C. Pointer

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